Robert White, whose forgeries helped fuel Thomas Petters’ $3.65 billion Ponzi scheme, has been sentenced to five years in prison.

White admitted he forged 10,000 documents that Petters, a Minnesota businessman and hedge fund manager, used to show investors purported consumer electronics sales backing bogus notes. At least 20 hedge funds were victimized by the scam, and at least one helped him cover up his crimes. Petters was convicted of fraud last year and sentenced to 50 years in prison.

White testified against Petters and “built up the government’s case in a major way,” U.S. District Judge Richard Kyle said. But Kyle rejected White’s bid to receive the same year-and-a-day sentence as Petters whistleblower Deanna Coleman. Still, White could have received up to 20 years in prison; with good behavior, he could be out of prison in three years.

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Forecasting markets has always been fraught with danger for analysts and traders alike. MODERN TRADER has dedicated issues detailing the pitfalls of following so-called markets gurus. Too often these market experts are allowed to flaunt their winning forecasts and let their losers fade into the background.